Agriculture Ministry Urges Calm on UPOV 1991 Review
Thailand’s Agriculture Ministry called for calm regarding the possible adoption of the UPOV 1991 plant variety protection treaty, saying the matter is still under study. Officials stressed that any decision will prioritize farmers’ and Thai citizens’ interests and will only proceed after extensive public consultation. They noted that current Thai law already offers a balanced system for protecting plant varieties and farmers’ rights.
The ministry reiterated that Thailand’s existing Plant Varieties Protection Act of 2542 (1999) already balances the rights of breeders with the protection of local and community varieties, includes benefit‑sharing mechanisms, and grants farmers the privilege to save and replant seeds on their own land. Deputy Director‑General of the Department of Agriculture, Sasithorn Pantang, confirmed that her agency is still in the data‑gathering phase, analysing the pros, cons and broader impacts of UPOV 1991, and assured the public that there is no cause for alarm because any decision must pass through several review stages — including the department, the ministry, the Cabinet and Parliament — and will be preceded by a public consultation process. Krit Utthamavekin added that while some critics fear the treaty could affect Thai farmers, others view it as an international framework that safeguards breeders’ rights, encourages research and development of new varieties, and could open new market opportunities for Thai agricultural producers.
